Why We Travel: Disconnect to Reconnect

Why do we travel? The common response may vary along the lines of: to relax, to explore a new city, to spice up a stagnant routine, to escape Monday blues at the office, to check out a cool place we saw on Instagram. The list goes on.

If we dig deeper into their reasons, there’s an underlying impetus that drives us to pack our bags and leave the comfort of homes: a search for connection. We want to disconnect from what weighs us down, connect with what makes us most alive, and in turn, be able to reconnect with our true selves—and travelling is one of those things that makes it possible.

Disconnect from what weighs us down

Our daily lives come with commitments—family, friends, work, extracurricular activities—and social expectations. Sometimes the responsibilities we carry culminates in us being pulled from many opposing directions.

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The stresses from the roles that we play may cause us to forget our authentic self—the one behind the mask—and when we travel, we are allowed to be free, even for a while, from those expectations.

If you’re knee-deep in obligations, and scouring the web for guides and tips adds more stress to your already complex life, a surprise trip allows you to leave the planning to someone else.

Connect with what makes us feel most alive

Being in a brand new city is exciting. Our senses are heightened and everything is seen through fresh eyes. We lean into our interests and remember the things that makes us feel most alive, like walking in nature or having real conversations with people or wandering the streets and allowing our curiosities to lead the way.

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A customised Travelogue from Anywhr allows you to specify the kind of unique experience you want in your trip. We want to find a connection, a spark during our travel experience. Here are some of the things that can ignite that feeling:

Learn a lesson in culture. Swing by museums and learn about history and art through free tours, visit places of worships and observe the routines of locals, buy street food and watch how the hawker makes a local delicacy.

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Get to know the people. Enter shops by the streets and ask the sellers about their craft, hop on cabs and talk to the drivers about the most interesting stories they’ve heard from the back seat, hang out at a bar or cafe and chat with the bartender or waiter about what inspires them.

Take a look at the city from a different angle. We tend to observe the city only from a street level. Find the highest vantage point in the city—a hill, a tower, a high-rise apartment—and take in the view of the landscape from a fresh perspective.

Go beyond the walls of the city centre. Find your way to the outskirts of the city or its suburbs, and notice the difference in the buildings, the homes, the way of life of its people. You’ll be able to get a sense of the changing socio-economic landscape of a city and gain a fuller experience.

Reconnect with our true selves

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As we move around and truly open our eyes to connect with the city through its people, culture and architecture, we expose our minds to new perspectives.

We are able to check in on our frames of mind, our thought processes, our existing prejudices, and reflect on what we’ve seen, heard and experienced. We gain a new appreciation for the diversity of the world and our place in it. Through connection with others and their way of life, we are able to reconnect with ourselves at our core.

If at home we have lost sight of who we are, travelling allows us to get in touch with our belief systems and our true selves, reassessing how we choose to see the world and how we wish to live our lives.

Still need a little inspiration? Check out the Travellers who have taken the plunge!

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AUTHOR: HUDA

A Singapore-based writer and photographer, often found getting lost in new cities. A lover of mountains, she is drawn to mindfulness and solitude—themes often reflected in her work. The perfect trip for her involves autumn leaves, green tea latte and long walks (not on the beach).